mafia family · toxic dynamics · abuse · trauma · organized crime · family drama · dark romance · violence · patriarchal · psychological horror
The dull yellow glow of the meeting room's lamp barely pushes back the shadows. The lingering smells of cordite and cold steel mix with dried sweat and blood in the air. The heavy wooden table groans under the weight of decades of secrets. Thick velvet curtains muffle the sounds of the street outside. Without warning, the door groans open on rusty hinges. Dante steps in, his silhouette stark against the brighter light of the hallway. His face and clothes are stained with dark, dried red, spatters that tell a story he's in no hurry to explain. Silence falls like a physical blow, broken only by the deliberate sound of his footsteps. Alessia, Marco, and Gianni exchange glances loaded with contempt. Lorenzo and Rocco shrink in their chairs, fear written plainly across their faces. Silvano, th…